Chapter 15

1He who fears the LORD will do this;he who is practiced in the law will come to wisdom.2Motherlike she will meet him,like a young bride she will embrace him,3Nourish him with the bread of understanding,and give him the water of learning to drink.
a
Jn 4, 10; 6, 31ff
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4He will lean upon her and not fall,he will trust in her and not be put to shame.5She will exalt him above his fellows;in the assembly she will make him eloquent.6Joy and gladness he will find,an everlasting name inherit.
b
Sir 6, 29–32
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7Worthless men will not attain to her,haughty men will not behold her.8Far from the impious is she,not to be spoken of by liars.9Unseemly is praise on a sinner’s lips,for it is not accorded to him by God.10But praise is offered by the wise man’s tongue;its rightful steward will proclaim it.

Man’s Free Will

11Say not: “It was God’s doing that I fell away”;for what he hates he does not do.12Say not: “It was he who set me astray”;for he has no need of wicked man.
c
Jas 1, 13
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13Abominable wickedness the LORD hates,he does not let it befall those who fear him.14When God, in the beginning, created man,he made him subject to his own free choice.
d
Gn 1, 27
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15If you choose you can keep the commandments;it is loyalty to do his will.16There are set before you fire and water;to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.17Before man are life and death,whichever he chooses shall be given him.
e
Dt 30, 15
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18Immense is the wisdom of the LORD;he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.19The eyes of God see all he has made;he understands man’s every deed.
f
Pss 33, 18; 34, 16; Heb 4, 13
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20No man does he command to sin,to none does he give strength for lies.